Replacing License from one server to another

[Yellow_Flash]

Hi Team,

Is it possible to move a license from one server to another one for testing purpose, and then revert it once the testing is over?

I have a 4 channel professional license in one of our test servers(for simplicity lets call it, Test1), and a free license that is expired on another server(Test2).
Both the servers have different FQDN. We use our own FQDN and not 3cx FQDN.
I want to replace the expired free license(Test2) with the Professional license from the Test1 server.

After going through a lot of posts about this, the steps I've found are.

1. Disconnect the FQDN from the customer Portal of Test 1.
2. Assign the license to the Test2 server, by logging into the dashboard and using the "replace license key" option under the License Details.

Could someone please confirm whether this is indeed the correct step to replace a License key from one server to another?
Will this update the license with the FQDN of the Test 2 server?



Second part of the Question is,

Once the testing is over, Is it possible for me to move this license key back to the test server Test 1 ?

Since I've already disconnected the FQDN of the Test 1, I understand that i lose that FQDN, but since it is our own FQDN in the format xxx.companyname.co.uk, i believe it should be available.
On many threads it says i can get back the FQDN if i do a fresh install of 3CX, but the problem i face is that the V20 doesn't allow me to take a full backup of the server without the FQDN. I can no longer see the option to omit the FQDN while taking backup. So how can i go about reinstalling the 3CX with the backup if I don't have an option to take backup without including FQDN?

Or, since I've already relased the FQDN, when i take backup, the server should in theory take backup without the FQDN?

Is that the case?

Could someone shed some light into this?

Thank you.

 

[KyriacosS_3CX]

Hi,

As the test1 server is not to be used during the test, you should just be able to take a backup, halt the machine and restore it to test2 without unlinking anything, update your DNS settings to point to test2's IP and go. - Make sure any custom SSL certificate you have is copied over or available to add as needed.

Reverting back would be the same (minus backup restoration if you don't want to bring the experimental config over, since test1 already has the relevant licence info).

Just make sure that just one machine at a time is active with that licence key to avoid issues with it. This would just be an IP change in essence.

Best,
KS.

 

[Yellow_Flash]

Hi,

As the test1 server is not to be used during the test, you should just be able to take a backup, halt the machine and restore it to test2 without unlinking anything, update your DNS settings to point to test2's IP and go. - Make sure any custom SSL certificate you have is copied over or available to add as needed.

Reverting back would be the same (minus backup restoration if you don't want to bring the experimental config over, since test1 already has the relevant licence info).

Just make sure that just one machine at a time is active with that licence key to avoid issues with it. This would just be an IP change in essence.

Best,
KS.

Thank you for the response.

Since we have already setup both the machines, restoring the Test1 to the Test2 will probably the last option we are looking at.
The other issue is with all the data that is available on the Test2 machine, as it will be wiped clean if we do a backup and restore.

If we have to replace the license, can I do it using the method i posted?
And is it possible to revert it once the testing is oveR?
Thank you.

 

[Yellow_Flash]

For the second part of the question,

Is it possible to revert, if I take a backup of the Test1 in the beginning itself (I read somewhere that taking a backup without FQDN isn't possible with V20) ?

So, after the testing is over, can't I release the FQDN of Test2 and simply do a fresh install of the Test 1 with this backup and provide the license key?

Wouldn't this solve the issue?

We wouldn't be needing the Test2 server after the testing, so whatever happens to it, isn't an issue for us.

 

[SteveITS]

Commercial keys can't be replaced: https://www.3cx.com/blog/news/licensing-updates/

 

[Yellow_Flash]

Commercial keys can't be replaced: https://www.3cx.com/blog/news/licensing-updates/

We are not trying to replace the commercial key.
We are planning to replace a free key with the commercial key and then reverting it.
At no point is a commercial key being replaced with a free key.